East Cape pair on Forbes list

Young entrepreneurs humbled by recognition

TWO Eastern Cape businessmen have made it onto the Forbes Africa 30 under- 30s list of most promising entrepreneurs of the year. Inga Gubeka and Siya Beyile are among only five South Africans who made it onto the list.

The other three are Nadav Ossendryver, Emmanuel Bonoko and Mogau Seshoene.

The list cuts across property, financial services, manufacturing, media, technology, green technology, healthcare, agriculture and fashion. People named on the list represent the entrepreneurial, innovative and intellectual best of their generation.

Gubeka, 28, is the founder and chief executive of Johannesburgbased design studio Indalo Decor. The Ngqeleni-born businessman said yesterday he was humbled by Forbes’s recognition.

“Getting such recognition feels good. It’s humbling and inspiring, even to me,” he said.

“As a businessman, it means a lot and I am motivated to work even harder and prosper in everything I do.” Gubeka is an industrial designer and his company specialises in interior design as well as wooden accessories, like iPhone covers.

“We can design almost any product, for whatever functionality, and also manufacture it,” Gubeka said.

“It could be packaging, promotional items, furniture or interiors.” He said it had always been part of his goal to be one of the young South Africans to watch out for. “I believe that whatever you do, do it big.

“Always think positive and big in whatever you do,” he said.

Beyile, 22, whose family is from Dutywa, is founder and fashion director of The Threaded Man, an online portal that provides men with the latest style trends, introducing them to a trendy yet sophisticated lifestyle right for today’s metro man.

Last year, Forbes mentioned Beyile as one of the young people to look out for.

He was recently chosen as the new face of the American Swiss campaign, which launched nationwide this week, and was named fashion director for the SA Music Awards event in Durban this Saturday.

Beyile said he was proud and humbled to have made it onto the list.

“My family comes from the rural Eastern Cape and I know how hard they have worked to get me to where I am now, and I owe it to them,” he said. The honour had given him the power to do more and to be an inspiration to other young people, he said.